Ticket Fines and Penalties in North Dakota

North Dakota Traffic Ticket Fines and Costs

Traffic ticket fines are uniform throughout the counties, but may vary within each municipality. If you have questions regarding the fine (or bond, as it's called in North Dakota) amount, call the presiding court listed on your citation.

If you've lost your ticket, learn what do in our Lost Traffic Ticket section.

Auto Insurance Rate Increase

Depending on the policies of your car insurance company, you may also be penalized with higher insurance premiums. You can always counter a rate increase by shopping around online and comparing car insurance rates of potential new providers.

ND Traffic Ticket Penalties

In addition to traffic ticket fines, there are also penalties. Depending on the severity of the violation, points will be added to your driving record and your ND driver's license may be suspended or revoked.

North Dakota Point System

The state will assign points to your driving record following a traffic violation. Point amounts range from one to 24. The more serious the violation, the higher the points. The state will remove one point for every three months you drive without being issued a traffic citation. You also have the option to have three points removed by completing a state-approved driver training course.

Driver's License Suspension or Revocation

Should you lose your driving privileges, it's always good to know the difference between a suspended and a revoked driver's license:

Suspended License― The temporary loss of your ND driver's license. Reinstatement requirements are dependent on the reason behind the suspension.
Revoked License―The termination of your North Dakota driver's license. Once the revocation period has ended, you must reapply for a new driver's license. This requires retaking the knowledge and skill tests.

Here are just a few violations that will cost your driving privileges:

• 12 or more points on your driving record
• Driving 36 mph or more over the speed limit
• Reckless driving
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Fleeing from law enforcement in a motor vehicle
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs

Learn more by reading the North Dakota Driver's Handbook.

Penalties for Drivers Younger Than 18

Teen drivers have less leeway when it comes to traffic infractions. In addition to the violations described above, you may also lose your ND driving privileges for:

• Accumulating six {IDMV Point System}points} or more on your driving record
• Overtaking and passing a school bus
• Racing, or drag racing
• Violating any driving restrictions

Penalties for North Dakota Commercial Drivers

You must notify your employer within 30 days of a traffic violation conviction, regardless of the type of vehicle you were driving.

Major Offenses

You will lose your ND CDL for one year if convicted of any of the following offenses:

• Driving any vehicle with a blood alcohol count (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
• Driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a BAC of 0.04%
• Refusing to submit to a sobriety test
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Using the vehicle to commit a felony
• Driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a suspended, revoked or canceled CDL
• Causing a fatality through negligent driving

Serious Offenses

These violations include:

• Speeding 15 mph over the posted speed limit
• Reckless driving
• Improper lane changes
• Following a vehicle too closely
• Driving a CMV without holding a CDL
• Driving a CMV without having your CDL in your possession
• Driving a CMV without the proper CDL endorsement
• Violating a state law of texting while driving

A second conviction of any combination of these violations will lead to the loss of your driving privileges for 60 days, or 120 days for a third or subsequent conviction of any combination of these offenses.

CDL Disqualifications

You CDL will be disqualified from anywhere from 180 days to one year for the following convictions:

• Violating a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting nonhazardous materials
• Violating a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded, or while driving a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers

For more on traffic violations and penalties, visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's website.